Chapter 15
Rebeckha
It wasn’t fair, shutting out Malcolm. He didn’t do anything wrong, but I couldn’t help it. My insecurities were revealed and I’m ashamed of it. I cried my eyes out last night, on the bench near the restaurant, as well as in the bathtub after we got back to the room. I know this morning, as I wake with puffy eyes, that I’d rather just avoid any conversation about what happened. As I roll over and stretch my sore limbs, I look over to Mal’s side of the bed and he’s not there. I feel his side and it’s cold. After sitting up, I see that I’m alone in the room. A note rests on the table in the sitting area of the suite.
Beck -
Gone to grab us some coffee and breakfast. Please don’t leave.
I love you.
-Mal
“He thinks that I’m going to leave,” I say out loud. I shake my head and pad into the bathroom. I brush my teeth and then rummage through my luggage for something to change into.
I sit on the bed and wait patiently for Malcolm to return. When he does, he has his arms full: flowers, a bag of bagels, and a drink tray with two coffees. I rush to his side and help relieve him.
“I didn’t think this through. I thought I could carry everything, but I overestimated how many arms I actually have,” he says sheepishly.
“Mal. You didn’t need to get me flowers.”
“Flowers help make apologies better.”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. I over-reacted and let my jealousy get the best of me.”
“It’s a human reaction. But I still owe you flowers.”
“Thank you for the flowers and for saying what you said last night.”
“If it makes you feel any better, the male dancers wanted to ask you out and I growled at them.”
“You growled?”
“I think they know that either I have a thing for you or that we’re together.” He shrugs.
“Are you okay with that?”
“I wanted the news of us being a thing to be more organic and not some caveman type of claim, but yeah, I’m completely okay with it.”
“So does that mean I can get territorial?”
“Babe, you can piss on me if you want. Better yet, don’t. That’s pretty gross!” he says laughing while dodging my hand as it reaches up to playfully smack him.
***
The rest of the week in San Diego goes a lot smoother than our first night there. We talk over my insecurities and he assures me over and over again that he isn’t the kind of guy some of the girls were predicting he is. I’m not ready to head back home, but I know that next week we have our grand opening and I am likely just as nervous as Mal is.
This club has become my project too, at least the parts I’m involved with. I have watched Jacks and Malcolm work tirelessly from the start to now. They are dedicated and eager. I have watched them rehearse with some of the dancers, listen intently to the new staff and I have brought them endless supplies for those late nights as they sit around the bar.
The night of the opening, I find Mal pacing in his bedroom.
“You okay?” I ask, standing in the doorway.
“I am, just nerves.”
“Tonight is going to be great. We have a lot of publicity for tonight, a red carpet with some of the elite of Vegas, and some great sponsorships. And you have me.”
“I do. And that’s the most important of all.” He stops pacing, walks to stand in front of me and grabs both my hands.
“Can I get you anything? A drink to take the edge off, a blow job or maybe a massage?”
He laughs lightly. “That is quite the offer. But surprisingly, I’m going to decline all of them.” He smiles, releases one of my hands and then lowers himself down to one knee.
“What are you doing down there?” I ask, and then it suddenly hits me.
“Rebeckha, you and I met in an unconventional way and you’ve learned to accept me for who I am, you’ve helped me make my dream come true, and you’ve made me the happiest guy in the world.”
“The world?” I ask, laughing, only halfway serious.
“My world. I love you with every fiber of my being, and I want to start tonight off with a bang. I want to walk into our club tonight with you on my arm as my soon-to-be wife, the future Mrs. Jane.”
“Has anyone ever told you that your last name is very feminine?”
“I just asked you to marry me and you’re making fun of my last name?” he scoffs playfully.
“A last name that I would be honored to share with you. Yes! Yes, of course I’ll marry you!”
Malcolm
It came straight out of left field. I wasn’t planning on asking Beck to marry me tonight but, when I thought about what would make tonight perfect, her agreeing to marrying me was top of the list. I had been planning on asking her soon but then tonight became the night.
I’ve been carrying around this ring with me everywhere I’ve gone for the past several weeks in my inner jacket pocket. As I reach in, my fist closes around the box, then I open it as I present it to her. Her hand covers her mouth, her eyes go wide, and her head nods. No sound is coming from her, but I can tell she’s overcome with emotion.
I slip the ring on her finger, hold her hand in mine and stand.
“I love you,” I say to her, both my hands cradling her face.
“Ditto,” she replies, leaning into me.
***
Opening night was a huge success.
We had a packed house and everyone received the shows with open arms. Drinks flowed, guests laughed, and audiences were wowed. We had several members of Exposed Men come tonight, as well as performers from other clubs in the area, which made me feel like we had succeeded. Beck stood by my side all evening, her arm in mine, the diamond on her finger blinding everyone we came in contact with. At the end of the night, the entire staff sat together at the table and chairs on the floor, while Beck, Jacks and I sat on the edge of the stage.
“I know everyone is tired – it’s been a crazy night – but I just want to say, on behalf of myself and management, that we couldn’t have done it without you guys. You all helped tonight become a real thing, and I can’t put into words how happy I am that each and every single one of you helped create a terrific and lasting impression on our guests. Both sets of shows were equally talked about and praised by some of the top figures in the industry. Let’s do it again tomorrow night and the night after that and so on. Now I want to have a celebratory shot with everyone and then you are all free to go.”
“I think that the celebrating that we need to do around here is for your engagement,” Jacks says, holding up a glass, shocking everyone. “If you didn’t see the sizable rock on Beck’s finger, then you’re blind as a bat. These two fuckers got engaged earlier tonight. So along with the celebration of the opening of the club, let’s toast to the couple.” Jacks says, as half of the female staff drops their jaws. “Oh, and if you all didn’t know about them before, surprise!”
THE END